Lions hoping extra rest will do Delmas some good

The Lions have felt the loss of Louis Delmas this season because of left knee troubles. When Delmas is in the game, the Lions are a better defense.

The Lions have felt the loss of Louis Delmas this season because of left knee troubles. When Delmas is in the game, the Lions are a better defense.

Unfortunately, he wasn't on the field for the Lions in overtime in a 34-31 loss to the Texans on Thanksgiving because soreness developed in the knee.

"It wasn't conditioning, he was just sore," head coach Jim Schwartz said after the game. "That's just what happens over the long course of the game. It's an artificial-turf game, he was flying around and things like that and just wasn't able to finish."

It's understandable; Delmas hadn't played in nearly a month. He played 44 of 79 defensive snaps on Thursday.

Delmas has now missed seven games this season and portions of two others. He had five tackles in the loss to Houston.

Ricardo Silva filled in for Delmas during stretches of the second half and all of overtime. Silva played a total of 33 snaps and was credited with six tackles.

It seemed the Texans offense sensed when Silva was in the game, though, and tried to attack him. During the Texans 15-play, 97-yard scoring drive that sent the game into overtime, a couple plays were completed in front of Silva.

The good news for Delmas is that the Lions don't play again for another nine days. Hopefully the extra rest time allows him to play next week when the Lions host Indianapolis.

Other participation notes:

With Riley Reiff starting at left tackle for the injured Jeff Backus, the Lions did not use their extra-lineman package that had featured Reiff before Thursday's game.

Backup linemen Jason Fox (6) and Dylan Gandy (13) played only on special teams. Tight end Will Heller was used as an extra blocker on occasion, playing 15 snaps.

Rookie receiver Ryan Broyles did a nice job of filling in for Titus Young. The Lions' plan was to feature Broyles more and he responded with six catches for a career-high 126 yards. He played 80 of the teams 89 snaps on offense.

Mike Thomas caught his first touchdown pass as a Lion (five yards in second quarter) and played 58 snaps (65 percent).